The Israeli government has announced that it will block all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas expired. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Hamas had refused to extend the ceasefire under a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff.

A Hamas spokesperson criticized the move as “cheap blackmail” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement, urging international mediators to pressure Israel to resume aid supplies. Hamas insists that phase two of the agreement, which includes the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, should move forward as initially negotiated.

Netanyahu’s office stated that the halt on aid was a result of Hamas’s rejection of the US-backed ceasefire extension, which Israel had agreed to. The statement emphasized that Israel will not accept a ceasefire without the release of Israeli hostages and warned of further consequences if Hamas persists in its refusal.

The ceasefire agreement, which began on January 19, helped end 15 months of fighting, resulting in the release of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian detainees. However, negotiations for phase two—covering the release of remaining hostages and Israeli troop withdrawal—have stalled. It’s estimated that 24 hostages are alive, with 39 presumed dead.

Israel is prepared to resume negotiations if Hamas agrees to the six-week extension, which is proposed to cover the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods. Should these talks fail, Israel reserves the right to resume military action.

The ongoing conflict has already claimed significant casualties, with over 48,365 deaths reported in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health ministry figures, following Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.